The Advance 1898

Frederic Remington's painting "The Advance" captures a contingent of soldiers on horseback amidst a rugged landscape. Remington, working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was deeply influenced by the romanticism of the American West and the military expansion of the United States. This artwork presents us with complexities as it reflects both the adventure and the brutal realities of the westward expansion. The soldiers, including African American troops, are depicted in a moment of forward momentum. "The Advance" evokes questions about the roles and experiences of these men, particularly the African American soldiers, who were simultaneously part of the military's advance and subject to racial discrimination within and outside of its ranks. Remington's work invites us to reflect on the narratives and erasures inherent in the mythology of the West, challenging us to consider whose stories are told and whose are left out. The painting's emotional impact lies in this tension, reminding us of the human costs and contradictions embedded in the history of expansion.